Why Indie Armstrong memorial removed from Coles carpark

Sarah began writing in 2014 and for The Observer in 2015. She left the region in 2017 for a reporting stint at the Sunshine Coast and returned to her hometown one year later. From day one she has had a keen interest in police, court and crime reporting.

THE Sunshine Coast was up in arms after discovering the memorial for Indie Armstrong had disappeared.

Indie was just six years old when she was killed by a reversing motorist at the Coles carpark in Nambour on June 17.

Her death was widely felt across the Coast, devastating family and friends.

A memorial was placed near the scene for the community to leave messages and tributes.

Speculation on social media suggested Coles staff had taken it down for safety reasons.

However, a member of The Shack Community Centre was quick to clear up the confusion.

Flowers and messages were left by Leonie Gilbertson and her daughter Aylah, 6, to pay their respects to the family of the Indie Armstrong who died in Nambour after being struck by a car on a pedestrian crossing.Patrick Woods

He said an Armstrong family member had approached the organisation and asked for the memorial.

"We were contacted by them and they asked if it was all right if they could have it for the family,” The Shack volunteer Dale said.

"So we took it down and delivered it to them.

"When we handed it all over, they were very grateful, still numb and trying to process everything, but you could tell they were so appreciative of what the community had done.”

The memorial was visited by thousands during the week with flowers, gifts, cards and letters left for the heartbroken family.

Those who took the time to leave a message for the Armstrongs can be confident the family received it.

A Go Fund Me page created to help raise money for the family is still going strong with more than $70,000 raised and donations coming in every two hours.

A Facebook page has also been created for Sandy Bampton, believed to be Indie's grandmother, who was also injured in the incident, encouraging people to leave messages of support.

A post on the page stated the 57-year-old would need multiple surgeries on her pelvis and legs: "Sandy is the backbone of our family and anyone who knows her knows she is the most loving and caring person and would go to the ends of the earth to help anyone.”